WASHINGTON - A directive from the U.S. Department of Agriculture has introduced fresh uncertainty for millions of Ohio and Pennsylvania residents who rely on food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The new federal guidance issued on Saturday requires states to halt or reverse any efforts to issue full November benefits, forcing a partial payment system instead.

The memorandum from the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service cited a U.S. Supreme Court administrative stay of a lower court order. The stay effectively blocks the release of funds required to pay 100% of November SNAP benefits. The directive instructs states to process partial payments reflecting a 35% reduction of maximum allotments.

The federal order directly contradicted actions already un

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